Cold/Wind Chill in Ridges of E Monongalia and Nw Preston, West Virginia

Dangerous wind chills accompanied a low pressure system on December 23th. Lowest wind chill values occurred early afternoon on December 23rd, temperatures were below zero and gusts were 30 to 35mph. Minimum wind chill values across northern WV were near -30F.

A low pressure system rapidly intensified December 22nd to December 23rd as the center of the low moved from the Midwest across the Great Lakes. A flash freeze, strong wind gusts, and dangerously cold temperatures were recorded across the region. Record low maximum temperatures were broken at several climate sites. Widespread power outages were noted by utility companies, isolated areas experienced internal damage from frozen pipes, and hazardous travel was noted due to a flash freeze (rain quickly changed to snow) with rapidly dropping temperatures.